Veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, practice managers, rescuers, behaviorists, dietitians, trainers, volunteers and other animal experts are the backbone of pet ownership. Help your pets and their families live together in harmony and healthy life.
Catstar wants to highlight some of these underrated champions in the animal world. The person we call the heroes of the pet world.
We will interview some of the most exciting veterinary clinics, veterinary hospitals, animal shelters and rehabilitation organizations around the world and share wonderful, often harsh experiences as we work to support, heal, guide, activate and protect furry families.
These are the stories of Unsung Animal Superheroes!
Get to know Thrive Pet Healthcare!
mission
What in your own words? Prosperity of pet careMission and purpose?
Dr. Karin Collier: Thrive’s mission is to provide the best possible patient care with empathy, compassion and respect for the bond between pet parents and their beloved pets.
Dr. Shannon Varter: Provides caring and excellent veterinary care to your pets. While promoting their health and well-being through innovative treatments and personalized services.
Dr. Karanbir Landawa: We provide quality, caring pet health care to pet families from every path of life.
What are your individual mission and goals as a veterinarian and as a person?
Dr. Karin Collier: As part of our veterinarian oath, we are committed to the principle of “no initial harm.” My goal is to always do my best and provide the best possible quality of care to patients and their owners.
Dr. Shannon Varter: My goal is to create an environment where patients feel comfortable and trust clients to provide exceptional care to their pets. I aim to personalize each experience and ensure that every pet receives the attention and treatment it deserves.
Dr. Karanbir Landawa: To help pet families navigate cancer care for their pets, understand the treatment they have chosen, and make sure they and their pets are as comfortable as possible. Furthermore, my mission is to emphasize that the goals of cancer therapy in veterinary medicine are to some extent different from human medicine goals, focusing primarily on maintaining the normal quality of life of pets.
Thrive Pet Healthcare has just launched its latest app and is now available for free download App Store and Google Play. From booking appointments to medication management and emergency medical searches, the app offers world-class veterinary care to our customers. ”
Daily experience
What about being a veterinarian specialist in the US?
Dr. Karin Collier (Dallas): Dallas is a large city with a rather diverse population. Many people are not natives of Dallas or Texas. I’m actually a port from New Jersey. Being a part of Thrive allows me to connect with veterinary professionals around the country. I interact with my colleagues from Northern California to New York City.
Dr. Shannon Voter (Nashville): The opportunity I have thriving in Nashville is truly incredible. The city has a variety of community activities that can not only need support, but also make a tangible difference in the lives of pets. I enjoy joining Comfort Connections Therapy Dogs and the Nashville Sounds Baseball Team, as well as other organizations.
Dr. Karanbir Randhawa: At Petcure Oncology, I feel like I’m part of a team of radiation oncologists. I might be alone in my clinic, but I have the support and knowledge of all the other radiation oncologists in Petcure Oncology. Being part of a thriving pet healthcare hospital is like being part of a team with the same goals. We all work in a variety of specialties, but we share the same goal of providing the best possible care to as many families as possible, regardless of background or circumstances.
What does normal days look like when they flourish?
Dr. Karyn Collier: We have a very busy hospital and a lot of things happen. There are general practice appointments starting at 7am, and one day they may not finish until they have surgery every day Monday through Friday. Also, we are open 24/7 due to emergencies. It is possible that a cute puppy on the first visit, a patient undergoing dental procedures, and a patient may be seen here to eat a bag of chocolate candy at the same time. We practice small animals that are merely specialising in caring for dogs and cats.
Dr. Shannon Voter: I’m in the hospital at 7am and start early with regular health checks, vaccinations and consultations with my pet owner. These may include wellness testing, work-up tests for sick patients, parasite prevention, or follow-up visits. If there are scheduled surgeries, we prefer to do them in the morning as well. The afternoon begins with a health check and patient discharge.
Dr. Karanbir Randhawa: My day begins by taking the patient for a CT scan and treatment, making sure he is doing well at home, and doing a physical examination before administering anesthesia. Once the anesthesia patient is calm and ready for the anesthesia plan, they begin to see reconfirmation and new appointments. During these appointments, check the CT scan and perform the required biopsy or finer requests.
How big is your team?
Dr. Karyn Collier: We have 11 doctors and about 50 staff, including technicians and customer service representatives.
Dr. Shannon Voter: We have a small team of 10 people. We have three doctors, three receptionists, one groomer and three assistants.
Dr. Karanbir Randhawa: There are four of us. There are two licensed veterinary technicians, one radiotherapist (trained in operating our machines) and me.
On average, how many animals do you help out each week?
Dr. Karyn Collier: Of all the services we offer, we can see 300-350 patients a week.
Dr. Shannon Voter: We have about 50 patients a week.
Dr. Karanbir Randhawa: We see approximately 25 patients per week in our hospital.
Challenges and rewards
What is the most difficult part of your job?
Dr. Karyn Collier: The most difficult part of my job is navigating the financial aspects. Insurance is less common in veterinary medicine than in human medicine. Therefore, clients must pay directly for the service. People love their pets and want to do the best for them. We provide the best and necessary, but it costs money. It is difficult to deal with emotionally recharged situations and add financial arguments on top of them.
Dr. Shannon Voter: The most difficult thing about my job is to bring tough news to clients about pets.
Dr. Karanbir Randhawa: Surprising unrelated to cancer is difficult. Cancer treatment itself is always difficult when it comes to an end for the patient, but most often, they know when this purpose will come, and the patient is doing much better than this time. Surprising unrelated to cancer (heart disease, chronic kidney disease, foreign bodies, accidents, etc.) is always the most difficult as they do everything they can to control cancer. Still, despite the cancer being controlled, we don’t know when something unrelated will occur and can shorten the time.
What are the biggest challenges facing your organization?
Dr. Karyn Collier: Creating a great work-life balance has its challenges. We want to be present in our patients, but we need plenty of time. The age of social media makes working as a veterinarian especially difficult because it has the ability to attack and ruin a person’s reputation with several keystrokes. It’s very easy for misconceptions to end in a very negative way on public forums.
Dr. Shannon Voter: Handling a rude and difficult client is one of the most challenging tasks for veterinarian professionals. Many people underestimate the complexity and cost of veterinary care, leading to unrealistic expectations. Another challenge is high workloads that can lead to burnout and long periods of time, high patient volumes, and shortages of staff. It contributes to fatigue and burnout.
Dr. Karanbir Randhawa: Tackling emotional weight from patients and clients can be difficult, if not intentional. Veterinarians tend to take on that because we all naturally have that sense of compassion and empathy. We really care, and sometimes it can feel like a lot to handle!
What is the most rewarding part of doing what you guys are doing?
Dr. Karyn Collier: The most rewarding part of our job is being able to keep our patients healthy. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to make the pet feel better and bring it back to their family when they’re sick.
Dr. Shannon Voter: The most rewarding part of my job is making a difference. We can improve our patients’ lives through preventive care, surgery and education. The second best part of my job is to mentor and teach future veterinarian specialists.
Dr. Karanbir Randhawa: It’s rewarding to see a pet that has not been treated, and soon after treatment, we hear about how the pet has returned to his normal antics.
What are the results or specific animals that have had a major impact on you as a person or on your team?
Dr. Karyn Collier: I have been a veterinarian for a long time long enough to have a “lifetime” patient. I mean, I saw them for their first visit and was there for their last visit. It is an honor to be trusted to take care of your pet for 12-15 years.
Dr. Shannon Voter: I don’t know if there is one particular animal or achievement that has had the biggest impact on me or my team. For me, it is a daily moment. It’s about gratitude, embracing, and seeing improvements that really make up our biggest outcomes.
Dr. Karanbir Randhawa: Our specialty hospital is brand new. It’s great to see every department of ours become busy from all our efforts.
future
What are your main future goals for Pet Pet Care?
Dr. Karyn Collier: Through medical excellence, innovative technology, and a connected community of teams and partners, we continue to create a future of happiness for our pets.
How can the general public make your life easier?
Dr. Karyn Collier: Being a pet owner is a great responsibility. If your pet is young and does not have existing conditions, we will investigate your pet insurance. This helps to make the financial aspects of emergency and emergency situations much less stressful. Ask me a question. We want to ensure that pet owners understand their pet care, make informed decisions and participate.
Dr. Shannon Watter: Veterinary experts work hard and have a deep interest in animals, so treating them with patience, respect and gratitude can go a long way.
Dr. Karanbir Randhawa: Gives oncologists the opportunity to give them information about the cancer treatment process in veterinary medicine. You don’t need to pursue treatment to see an oncologist. We can help by providing ideas that will help you manage your case for longer than you think.
story
What is the most interesting or most outrageous pet name you’ve come across?
Dr. Karyn Collier: One of the coolest names was a Frenchman named Piggy Smalls. He was a lot of chubby little French so it was filled up a lot and sounded like a pig. There was also a kitten named Krusty. He had a severe upper respiratory tract infection and was extremely unfriendly!
Dr. Shannon Varter: Harry Porter, Purolock Holmes, Claudius
How to help
If someone is interested in joining your team or applying for a Thrive Pet Healthcare role, where do they find and get in touch?
Dr. Karyn Collier: If you’re interested in joining the Thrive hospital community, take a look. https://careers.thrivepetcare.com
Is there anything you would like to share with the cat community?
Dr. Karyn Collier: Hillside is not certified as cat-friendly practice by AAFP, but it is a practice that strives to create a comfortable experience and a cat-friendly atmosphere. I am known as “Cat Whisper.” Because I love working with cats.
Dr. Shannon Varter: Kindness and patience go a long way. Everyone wants the best results for your pet.
Dr. Karanbir Landawa: I love cats dying! If you can have a cat-only radiation therapy hospital, you will.
